ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The 2013-14 UNC Asheville women’s swim team will make its public debut this Saturday morning at Justice Center Pool when the Bulldogs hold an inter-squad meet starting at 11 a.m. Admission is free.

Second-year coach Elizabeth Lykins is pleased to have increased her roster from eight swimmers last year to 14 this season. All of them will get a chance to swim on Saturday.

"I am looking forward to some fast swimming on Saturday. It will be exciting to watch the team members race each other,” stated Lykins. “The new team members are fitting in well with the returners and will bring solid competition across all events."

A year ago, the Bulldogs won three dual meets and finished in ninth place at the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association championships. Not bad for a team with just eight swimmers as Asheville finished in front of four other teams with full rosters.

“We want to accomplish more this year,” commented Lykins. “We want to finish in the top half of the conference and win some more dual races.”

Asheville returns five of its eight members this season. They include Galen Broido, Hallie Gillespie, Ashley Ireland, Kristen Lawson and Alessandra Troncoso.

The Bulldogs open the season in two weeks (Oct. 4-5) at the North Carolina Invitational in Greensboro. Asheville’s first home dual meet will be on Friday, Nov. 8 against Radford starting at 5 p.m.